starlings in the loft

[firewatch]

hi i have read your posts on birds in lofts, we have destroyed the nest once, it was pretty messy construction, and put a temporary heavy board over the hole, however the tenacious little git has managed to move the board and started all over again. I have been up today and put the board back, but he has got in again as i can hear him scrabbling. I have sprayed the area with disinfectant and vanish spray ( it doesn't smell nice) but it doesn't seemed to have deterred him any advice?

[Avatar]

It is an offence against the Wildlife and countryside act 1981 to disturb *any* nesting bird or nest.

My advice therefore, leave him alone to get on with it.

[firewatch]

avatar cheers i was unaware of that one, i think he was quite pleased with our efforts as his second nest looks far better organized!
I will advise our landlord of the situation and i will research further into the situation by emailing the RSPCAor RSPB, are they known to poop all over things in the attic or do they stay in one place? its just we have a lot of stuff up there.

[Jugglering]

Please don't move this nest - as Avatar says, it's illegal to disturb nesting birds. Once the basic nest is built and a hen is enticed to come and join him in his lovely new home, she will line the nest with moss, feathers and other soft stuff then lay her eggs and incubate them, usually 4-6 eggs. It's highly unlikely either parent will be wandering around your attic - they will be far too busy looking after the eggs and then feeding the babies when they hatch about 12 days after laying. They will stay in the nest until they are ready to fledge(at about 3 weeks of age) and will be far more interested in food than in your attic. They will be fed by the parents for another 7-10 days before finally becoming totally independent. What you could do is simply cover your stuff with some dust sheets for the time being. When you no longer hear little chirrups from the attic and see all the starlings gathering together in great flocks, you know you can check on the nest to make sure it's empty. Simply remove the nest and THEN seal the hole where they are getting in.